HR Consulting

Senior HR leadership, embedded in your business — without the full-time price tag.

A dedicated HR Business Partner who plugs into your leadership team part-time and drives the strategic people initiatives that move your business forward. Senior-level credentials (SPHR, SHRM-SCP), industry-matched, and operational within one to two weeks.

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A senior HR business partner ready to embed with your leadership team.

8–32 hrs/wkRight-sized engagements

SPHR / SHRM-SCPSenior credentialed practitioners

1–2 weeksFrom kickoff to embedded

NC & SCLocal employment-law fluency

The HR Gap

Your business has outgrown reactive HR.

Growing companies inevitably hit an inflection point: the people challenges become too complex for a generalist or office manager to handle, yet the budget does not support a full-time CHRO or VP of Human Resources. The result is a real gap where compliance risks mount, top performers quietly disengage, and leadership decisions are made without a people strategy lens.

What a Fractional HRBP does.

Your fractional HRBP operates as an extension of your leadership team, bringing strategic HR capability to the decisions that matter most — not a transactional vendor running payroll.

Strategic workforce planning aligned to business objectives and growth targets
Employee relations guidance and proactive conflict resolution
Policy development, documentation, and regulatory compliance
Leadership coaching and management capability building
Compliance oversight across federal, state, and local employment law
M&A due diligence, integration planning, and cultural alignment

Compare

Fractional HRBP vs. full-time hire vs. HR outsourcing.

Understanding where a fractional HRBP fits requires comparing it directly to the alternatives mid-market employers most often consider.

Factor	Fractional HRBP (Catapult) BEST FIT	Full-Time HRBP / HR Director	HR Outsourcing / PEO
Annual cost	$35K–$75K depending on hours & scope	$150K–$220K fully-loaded (salary + benefits + tools)	Per-employee fees scale with headcount; transactional only
Strategic capability	Senior SPHR / SHRM-SCP advising leadership from day one	Senior capability — if you can attract and retain the right hire	Generalist support; rarely operates at the leadership table
Speed to integrate	1–2 weeks; arrives with frameworks & playbooks	60–120 day search, then ramp; total 4–6 months	Onboarding measured in weeks but limited to transactions
Scalability	Flex hours up or down as priorities shift — no rehiring cycle	Fixed cost; capacity gaps require additional headcount	Volume-based; strategic capacity rarely scales
Risk coverage	Federal, NC & SC state, FCRA, OFCCP, ACA, FMLA built in	Depends entirely on the individual hired	Compliance limited to administrative areas
Industry depth	Industry-matched HRBP with 10+ years sector experience	Single perspective; hard to swap when industry context changes	Generalist; one-size-fits-most

Core Service Areas

Comprehensive HR leadership, tailored to your stage.

Every Catapult fractional HRBP engagement is shaped around your organization’s stage, industry, and strategic priorities — not a fixed deliverables list.

Strategic Workforce Planning

Align headcount, roles, and organizational structure with your revenue goals and operational roadmap. Build data-informed talent plans that anticipate needs before they become urgent.

Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution

Navigate sensitive workplace situations with confidence. From performance management to investigations, get expert guidance that protects your people and your organization.

Policy Development & Compliance

Establish clear, legally sound policies that reflect your culture while meeting federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. Stay ahead of evolving employment law.

Leadership Development & Coaching

Equip your managers with the skills to lead effectively. Build coaching frameworks, feedback cultures, and development pathways that retain and elevate your best talent.

Organizational Design

Structure your teams for efficiency and scale. Clarify reporting lines, define roles, and design an operating model that supports where your business is headed, not just where it is today.

Change Management & Culture

Lead your organization through transitions with minimal disruption. Whether navigating rapid growth, restructuring, or M&A integration, build the culture that sustains long-term performance.

$A fractional HRBP in consultation with a client, taking notes during a strategy session.$

Embedded, not external

A trusted advisor at your leadership table — not a vendor at arm’s length.

Fit Check

Who needs a fractional HRBP?

Fractional HRBPs deliver the strongest return for organizations whose HR complexity has outgrown a generalist but whose budget does not yet support a full-time senior leader. Common patterns:

50–500 employees, no senior HR leaderHR is being run by an office manager, EA, or rotating generalist — and the business is feeling the limits.

Rapid growth or scale-up phaseDoubling headcount, opening a new location, or maturing the organization beyond founder-led people decisions.

M&A activity or restructuringDue diligence, integration planning, redesigns, RIFs — high-stakes work that demands senior judgment.

Compliance pressure risingOFCCP, ACA reporting, EEOC investigations, federal contractor obligations, or multi-state expansion.

Manager capability gapFirst-time managers need coaching frameworks; senior leaders need a sounding board for hard people calls.

Between full-time HR leadersCoverage during a search, parental leave, or transition — without losing momentum on strategic HR work.

Senior HR capability at a fraction of the full-time cost.

Hiring a senior HR leader directly is expensive, slow, and high-risk. Fractional flips the equation: you get the same senior credentials and strategic value, scaled to the hours you actually need.

Full-time HRBP / HR Director

$150K–$220K / yr

Fully-loaded salary plus benefits, tools, training, and a 60–120 day search before they even start. Single-point-of-failure risk.

Catapult Fractional HRBP

$35K–$75K / yr

Senior-credentialed leader, industry-matched, operational in 1–2 weeks. Scale hours up or down as needs change.

Certified HR practitioners.Every Catapult HRBP holds senior credentials (SPHR, SHRM-SCP) and brings 10+ years leading HR functions.
Flexible engagement model.Scale from 8 to 32 hours per week. Adjust scope as priorities shift — no long-term contract lock-in.
Immediate impact.Minimal ramp. Your HRBP arrives with frameworks, playbooks, and senior judgment from day one.
Continuity, not a one-shot project.Unlike consulting engagements, your HRBP stays embedded as your strategic partner over time.

$A diverse leadership team in a working session with their fractional HR business partner.$

From day one

Senior HR judgment in every leadership conversation — not a quarter from now.

How It Works

From first conversation to embedded partner in weeks — not months.

A straightforward path designed to deliver strategic value within the first 30 days.

Discovery & Matching

We assess your organizational needs, culture, and strategic priorities, then match you with a senior HRBP whose industry experience and leadership style align with your team.

Embedded Partnership

Your HRBP integrates into your leadership cadence, attending key meetings, building relationships across the organization, and establishing the trust needed to drive real change.

Ongoing Strategic Support

Through regular strategy sessions, quarterly business reviews, and continuous advisory access, your HRBP ensures HR remains a competitive advantage as your business evolves.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

What exactly is a fractional HR Business Partner?

A fractional HRBP is a senior-level HR executive who works with your organization on a part-time, ongoing basis. Unlike a consultant who delivers a project and leaves, a fractional HRBP becomes embedded in your team, attending leadership meetings, building internal relationships, and providing continuous strategic guidance on all people-related matters. You get the expertise of a seasoned HR leader at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.

How many hours per week does a fractional HRBP typically work?

Most engagements range from 8 to 32 hours per week, depending on your organization’s size, complexity, and current HR maturity. During peak periods such as open enrollment, organizational restructuring, or M&A activity, hours can be temporarily increased. We work with you to find the right cadence that delivers strategic value without exceeding your budget.

How long is a typical engagement?

There is no mandatory minimum term, but most clients find a six-month engagement provides the time needed to assess the current state, implement foundational improvements, and build sustainable HR practices. Many organizations continue their partnership for 12 months or longer as they recognize the ongoing strategic value. Engagements can be adjusted or concluded at any time with 30 days notice.

What industries do your fractional HRBPs serve?

Our senior HR practitioners have led people functions across technology, professional services, healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, nonprofit, and high-growth startup environments. During the Discovery and Matching phase, we pair you with an HRBP whose industry background and functional expertise align with your specific business context and challenges.

How is a fractional HRBP different from HR outsourcing?

HR outsourcing typically handles transactional tasks like payroll processing, benefits administration, and basic compliance. A fractional HRBP operates at the strategic level, serving as a trusted advisor to your leadership team on workforce planning, organizational design, talent strategy, and culture development. Your HRBP does not replace your HR operations; they elevate the function by bringing the senior-level strategic thinking that shifts HR from reactive to strategic.

$Close-up of a handshake symbolizing a fractional HR partnership agreement.$

Ready to fill your HR gap?

Connect with our team to discuss how a fractional HRBP can deliver immediate strategic value to your organization.

Get Started Today No long-term commitment required.